Hebrews 4:2 For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it.
Our faith in what we cannot see pleases God. Faith alone in the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ to accomplish all that the Father sent Him to do is salvation. This gift of God, undeserved and unmerited, saves all who trust in Him.
Acts 7:35-43 This Moses whom they rejected, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge?’ is the one God sent to be a ruler and a deliverer by the hand of the Angel who appeared to him in the bush. 36 He brought them out, after he had shown wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, and in the Red Sea, and in the wilderness forty years. 37 “This is that Moses who said to the children of Israel, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your brethren. Him you shall hear.’ 38 “This is he who was in the congregation in the wilderness with the Angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our fathers, the one who received the living oracles to give to us, 39 whom our fathers would not obey, but rejected. And in their hearts they turned back to Egypt, 40 saying to Aaron, ‘Make us gods to go before us; as for this Moses who brought us out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.’ 41 And they made a calf in those days, offered sacrifices to the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their own hands. 42 Then God turned and gave them up to worship the host of heaven, as it is written in the book of the Prophets: ‘Did you offer Me slaughtered animals and sacrifices during forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel? 43 You also took up the tabernacle of Moloch, And the star of your god Remphan, Images which you made to worship; And I will carry you away beyond Babylon.’
Stephen was one of the seven entrusted with the care of the widows. He was retelling the Scriptures in the coming of their Messiah King. Moses brought them out of Egypt by signs and wonders He showed Himself to Moses. From this time on the Jews were led by these same signs of God’s hand on them. In spite of the miracles performed in their sight they still sought idols. They wanted an idol that they could see in order to believe.
Hebrews 3:7-15 Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: “Today, if you will hear His voice, 8 Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, In the day of trial in the wilderness, 9 Where your fathers tested Me, tried Me, And saw My works forty years. 10 Therefore I was angry with that generation, And said, ‘They always go astray in their heart, And they have not known My ways.’ 11 So I swore in My wrath, ‘They shall not enter My rest.’ ” 12 Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; 13 but exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end, 15 while it is said: “Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.”
1 Corinthians 1:22-25 For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; 23 but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
Hebrews 3:18 And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who did not obey? 19 So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.
Unbelief stops us from entering into the rest that is given to us as believers by faith. In the manner that we believe is the manner that we can receive from the very hand of God. If God says it in Scripture it is the truth revealed to us. Believe it! Carla
The Israelites disobeyed Yahweh by turning away from Him (Numbers 14:43). Numbers 14:22 records that the Israelites disobeyed 10 times—likely referring to their complaints (Exodus 14:11; 15:24; 16:2; 17:2, 3; 32:1; Numbers 11:1, 4; 12:1; 14:2). Faithlife Study Bible
The author of Hebrews speaks of the Israelites’ unbelief as sin (verse 17) and disobedience (verse 18). The Israelites did not enter God’s rest, the Promised Land (verse 11), because they did not believe in God’s promises to them (Numbers 1:1–34). They failed to possess their inheritance because they did not trust in God (Deuteronomy 12:9; Joshua 13:7). The Jewish Christians to whom this letter was addressed were in danger of following in their ancestors’ footsteps. They were tempted to doubt the words of Jesus. With the rhetorical questions in these verses, the author of Hebrews was encouraging them to place their faith firmly in Christ (10:26; 12:1, 2). The NKJV Study Bible
Deuteronomy 1:34–35 “And the LORD heard the sound of your words, and was angry, and took an oath, saying, ‘Surely not one of these men of this evil generation shall see that good land of which I swore to give to your fathers,
Numbers 14:1–35 So all the congregation lifted up their voices and cried, and the people wept that night. And all the children of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron, and the whole congregation said to them, “If only we had died in the land of Egypt! Or if only we had died in this wilderness…
Hebrews 4:6 Since therefore it remains that some must enter it, and those to whom it was first preached did not enter because of disobedience,
Romans 11:30–32 For as you were once disobedient to God, yet have now obtained mercy through their disobedience, even so these also have now been disobedient, that through the mercy shown you they also may obtain mercy…
From Jewish tradition we learn our job title; Tikkun olam. Literally, repairer of the world.
The word olam also means hidden. We need to repair the world so that its Creator is no longer hidden within, but shines through each thing in magnificent, harmonious beauty.
As a gardener this makes perfect sense. It’s all about the dirt. Nutritious or nutritive soil creates and generates life. Toxic soil does not. Fertility is stifled, because the nutrients have been leached.
Tikkun, to repair the soil of the world with nutrients: kindness, a balm of generosity, a capacity to accommodate fragility, and a softness of spirit. What Eve Ensler called, “The daily subtle simple gathering of kindness.”
Choosing (working) to heal (Tikkun olam) isn’t only for the spiritually or intellectually inclined.
Choosing to heal is in our DNA. As children of our creator, we are healers.
In kindness, we affirm dignity.
In empathy, we see value and build connections.
With compassion and justice, we right wrongs and create sanctuaries. Sabbath Moments
Psalm 139:9-10: "If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me." From east to west and from heights to depths, God is present in all places and faithful to all people.
Psalm 139:8 says, "If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!" "Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:38-39, NIV)!
If you find yourself drifting or in the depths of pain, heartache or fear, always remember this: Because of Jesus, God's love is right there with you. He will hold you in His mighty hand. You are never too far gone for Christ. First5
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